Central Plateau languages

Central Plateau
Geographic distribution:	Nigeria
Linguistic classification:	Niger–Congo Atlantic–Congo Benue–Congo Plateau Central Plateau
Subdivisions:	Rigwe Izere Tyapic Hyamic Koro Gyongic Yeskwa North Plateau

The twenty Central Plateau languages are a residual branch of the Plateau family spoken in central Nigeria. Tyap, or Katab, has 130 000 speakers, and the closely related Jju aka Kaje has well over 300 000. Hyam, or Jabba, has another 100 000. Cori is famous for being one of very few languages with six tone levels, though only three are needed for writing.

Classification

The Central Plateau languages are a close geographical group with numerous connections; however, they are to some extent a residual group, and may be a sprachbund. The following classification is taken from Blench (2008). A distinction between North Plateau and the rest of Central Plateau is possible but appears to be geographic; Gerhardt (1994) argues they belong together.

Each of the terminal bullets which follows is a discrete language or dialect cluster and is obviously valid. However, most of the groups (Hyamic, North Plateau, Gyongic, Koro) are not self-evident and may continue to be revised.

• Rigwe (Irigwe)
• Izeric
  • Izere: NE & NW Izere, Cèn, Ganàng
  • Fəràn (Firan) – clearly related to Izere
• Tyapic
  • Tyap (Katab): Tyap, Gworok, Atakar, Kacicere, Sholio, Kafancan
  • Jju (Kaje) – probably part of the Tyap cluster
• Hyamic
  • Cori
  • Hyam (Jabba): Hyam of Nok, Sait, Dzar; maybe Yaat, Ankun also separate
  • Shamang
  • Zhire (Shang is relexified Zhire)
• Koro
  • Koro: Ashe, Begbere-Ejar
  • ? Idun
• Gyongic
  • Gyong (Kagoma)
  • Kamanton
• Yeskwa (Nyankpa)
• North Plateau
  • Kadara
  • Kuturmi
  • Kulu (Ikulu)
  • Idon
  • Doka
  • Iku (Iku-Gora-Ankwe)

References

• Blench (2008) Prospecting proto-Plateau. Manuscript.

External links

• Plateau materials from Roger Blench